Celebrating Veterans Day with Children
Veterans Day is Nov. 11, and it’s much more than a four-day weekend!
Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on Nov. 11, 1918. In 1954, though, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress amended the Act by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting the word “Veterans.”
With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, Nov. 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.
In 1968, the Uniforms Holiday Bill tried to ensure three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. Under this bill, Veterans Day was moved to the last Monday of October. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holiday on its original date.
The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on Oct. 25, 1971. Finally, on Sept. 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law, which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of Nov. 11, beginning in 1978.
Since then, Veterans Day has been observed on Nov. 11.
Teaching the meaning of Veterans Day to your children can be a challenge. We want our children to understand why Veterans Day is a holiday and what it means to our country’s history and our warriors’ families.
The most simplistic thing you can do to offer explanations and honor this holiday with your children is to spend time talking to them about what Veterans Day means to you. Take the day to talk and reflect on the subject of those who have fought our wars.
Here are a few things you can do
1. Honor and respect. Visit a local veterans cemetery. Almost every community has some sort of a war memorial.
2. Visit and pay tribute. Take cookies, books, or movies to a nearby veterans hospital.
3. Celebrate with a parade. Go to a Veterans Day parade.
4. Recognize our heroes. Teach your children about the Medal of Honor.
5. Educate with history. Watch a movie and learn some history about famous battles of the past. The History Channel and The Military Channel have many shows that fit this bill.
6. Make A Soldiers Day. Have your children create a card or picture to be sent overseas to a service member currently at war.
